Prospectus

“The promotion of personal development and welfare is a strength of the school. Pupils are polite and considerate and respect other people. They are well cared for and know who to talk to if they are concerned about anything. They are proud of their school.” Ofsted 2017

Welcome to Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent, one of the city’s most successful schools.

I am delighted to welcome you to Co-op Academy Stoke on Trent; I’m proud to lead one of the most successful schools in the city. Our mission is straightforward: we want every child to ‘be the best’. In order to make that happen we are committed to: delivering great learning so every child studies a full, rigorous and well-taught curriculum; great support so that they are well-rounded and healthy young adults; and a great experience so they benefit from enrichment opportunities that compete with the very best schools in the country.

We are ambitious for all of our students and have the highest expectations of what

they can achieve both academically and as young people. While we recognise

the importance of academic achievement and work tirelessly to ensure all of

our students achieve the very best outcomes, we also place great emphasis on

their development as young adults. Ultimately, we recognise that successful

young people have a range of talents, abilities and attributes. We pride ourselves

on making sure that whatever the talent, ability, or interest, every child has the

opportunity to realise their potential.

If you would like to arrange a tour, to see the exceptional work that goes on each

day, please contact the Academy at stok-academy@coopacademies.co.uk.

Mr S. Richardson Headteacher

Mr S. Richardson, Headteacher, Co-op Academy, Stoke-on-Trent

Mission and VisionMission Empowering everyone to reach their potential and be the best.

VisionBecome a great academy by delivering:

> Great learning> Great support> Great experience

“Since I have been at the academy, I have had the opportunity to experience so many great things. It’s like I started off with almost a blank canvas. But I didn’t see that as an obstacle. I saw it as an opportunity. And that’s because of what the academy has done to help boost my confidence. I used to be very shy, but now I can speak in front of people.” Shannon Year 9.

We demonstrate our values through the Co-op Ways of Being

Do what matters most

What matters most is ensuring our students achieve the best

possible outcomes.Be yourself, always

We bring our best self to the academy, so that we each

contribute and respect others for doing the same.

Show you careWe care about our students; their

parents and their carers, now and for the future.

Succeed togetherCo-operating is what makes us different; we’re better and

stronger when we work together.

Community and the Co-op“ To build a strong academy and strong community we need the best people on our side.”

Being a Co-op Academy means we’re committed to our community. Our students are not just taught in the classroom, but they’re also taught in their community and we look at how we can make positive contributions to the local area.

We want to be the hub of the local community. We host a variety of events throughout the year, inviting parents, carers, students and friends of the academy. We work closely with Swan Bank Church as we bridge the generation gap between elderly citizens and young people. Through events such as coffee mornings; Christmas dinners and quiz nights, we let our community know that they are not alone and together we will tackle loneliness.

We also work closely with local organisations who make a positive impact in the local community. Our students’ play an active role in these projects as we build strong relationships with those around us. We work closely with Urban Wilderness, a local group who take disused spaces in the community and transforms them into useable spaces. Our students are at the forefront of this and have cleared away debris in various areas, and then made tree swings; hammocks; benches and flower gardens. These spaces are now used by the community.

Make Some Noise are a music group that runs popular workshops with our students. Running the course of a term, students’ write; perform and produce songs that form part of an album - which they also design the artwork for. The students then perform at local primary schools and at the various events we hold at the academy. Each album has a theme such as youth loneliness.

The work we do in and for our community means that we can actively involve everyone in all we do. And this includes our transition work.

Our transition programme supports students to make the jump from primary to secondary school. The majority of the transition programme is organised by our Co-operative Young Leaders. These students take part in a leadership course throughout their time with us. They then work with primary schools to make sure their pupils feel confident, safe and prepared to join our academy.

Curriculum

Key Stage 4Every student chooses from a wide range of academic and vocational courses. Students are also given more support if needed to make sure they have every chance of success.

From Year 10, all students take English, English Literature, maths, science and physical education.

Students then choose four more subjects to study. These are down to their own personal preference. GCSEs are then taken in Year 11.

Key Stage 3We run an award winning programme called The Edge. Students choose from a range of activities that nurture and build their character. Other activities improve their leadership, confidence and resilience.

The Scholars Programme The Scholars Programme gives you access to topics and subjects that you would not experience in the normal curriculum. The habit that we want you to embrace is the love of learning for learning’s sake. This access to a rich and deep knowledge through the Scholars Programme will put you on a par with the best students anywhere in the country.

A great curriculum is more than a set of traditional subjects. It should include trips to museums and galleries, rivers and forests. It should give students the chance to play sport and to serve the community.

It should let them experience the arts and debate current affairs. The more students get involved with different activities and experiences, the more they enjoy their time here. And it leads to more success at the academy.

Extra-curricularBreakfast Club Breakfast is an important way to start the day and we know eating it has a positive impact on learning. Students are welcome to arrive at the academy for 8am, when they can enjoy a free breakfast. They can also use the library before lessons start at 9am.

Homework Club We encourage independent learning and offer a range of before and after school clubs. Homework club runs in the morning and after school. It’s a good time for students to finish their homework using the academy’s resources.

Uniform We have high standards and expect students to represent the academy in the community. They take pride in their appearance and model our values. All new students receive a free uniform.

Heads of Year Each year group has a Head of Year to offer support and guidance to the students, and help them to achieve their best.

Year Managers Our Year Managers make sure our students do not face any barriers to learning. They offer social, emotional and wellbeing support to every student.

Heads of Houses There are four houses named Emma Bridgewater, Josiah Wedgwood, Sir Stanley Matthews and Reginald Mitchell. They help promote a strong sense of community built on the Ways of Being. This helps to foster a sense of identity and belonging, as well as healthy competition. The Heads of Houses promote the great work the students do and they also organise an end of year awards ceremony.

10 Ways of Being GreatHere are 10 ways you can demonstrate our values and the Co-op Ways of being-We’ll create opportunities each year for you to do the following

Attend regularly, have a smart appearance and be well-behaved.1 Regularly attend an after

academy activity.2 Represent the Academy in a sporting, cultural or academic event.3 Take part in a national or international

outward bound or residential trip.4 Attend a national sporting, cultural or academic event.5 Take part in an academy production

or performance6Take part in a formal presentation to an audience.7 Be actively involved in an experience

which helps others within the academy or in the local community.8

Participate in a fundraising or a raising awareness event in the academy.9 Help with environmentally

friendly activities in the academy.10

Pastoral SupportThe most important part of what we do is providing a great experience for all students. We want all students to reach their full potential and have a positive experience at the academy. The iZone plays a big part in this.

The iZone is our pastoral hub. We use it to remove barriers to learning by providing support and advice. The aim is to empower students and give them the tools and skills to make positive choices.

Within the iZone is the Mentoring Team; the Year Managers and Learning Support.

Some of our students have ‘Special Educational Needs and Disability’ (SEND). This may mean they need extra help and support. By providing this we help those students integrate with the academy community. Provision is available for all four areas of need outlined in the 2014 SEND Code of Practice. All SEND students receive support in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Professionals within the iZone provide this support. They work together to meet the needs of the students.

The Learning Support team give emotional and social support. They also carry out effective Literacy and Numeracy plans. This helps the students develop their students skillset.

The plans used include:> 123 Maths

> SULP (Social use of language programme)

> MSL (Multi-sensory literacy)

> Social Stories

> Handwriting

> Toe by Toe (Dyslexia intervention)

> Reading

> After school literacy and numeracy catch-up

> ELSA (Social and emotional support)

> The Bridge - academic and emotional social support

The SENDCo leads our team of specialists who provide extra support in lessons. They also lead one to one interventions and group work.

We have a learning support room that provides a safe place for students to use at break and lunchtimes.

The BridgeThis is a learning support centre that operates within a nurturing environment.

We personalise our approach to the students and help them reach their full potential. Students attend sessions on self-esteem and confidence.

We also have a sensory room to help our students relax. This helps those who may have communication difficulties.

If you would like to join our academy, you need to complete your application online. You can do this using the local authority admissions application form.

If your child is currently in Year 6, you will have received a letter from the local authority. This will have a unique student number, which you will need when applying for a place. We consider all applications for places. If the academy is full, we will use our Admissions Policy to consider applications.

We accept ‘in-year’ admission requests throughout the academic year for every year group. In-year transfer request forms are available at our reception and on our website.

Please contact us if you need more information or would like some help with your application. Contact our reception on 01782 882300 or email academy@cas.coop.

If you would prefer to visit the academy, Mrs Broadhurst is available to help you. All information is available on our website www.cas.coop/admissions. The Common Applications Form is also available online.

Admissions

“The academy has provided me with new experiences for general life. It provided me with support in all aspects of education that I was unsure of, and helped me to realise the importance of higher education. Staff provided me with the additional advice I needed to set and achieve goals so that I can reach my full potential. I met people of a similar mindset to me and made new friends from different places. I think the most crucial thing the academy has taught me was that education is about developing new skills, experiences and learning to do what I love and am passionate about. I have to put in the effort and have the determination to achieve.”Rabiyah Year 11

Westport Rd, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4LD 01782 882300

stokeontrent.coopacademies.co.uk

How to find us

Longport

Middleport

Burslem

A527

1Westport Rd

Mill

Ha

yes R

d

A50

Fede

ratio

n Rd

Westport

Lake Rd

Westport Lake

Visitor centre

Bottle Kiln, Top

Bridge WorksCanal

A527

1

DimensionsLeisure Centre

Tunstall

Stanfield

Cana

l